Five Burnaby high school teachers have joined forces to make sure their students get to prom – and get there looking fabulous.
It all started with Byrne Creek Community School science teacher Anja Zulic’s spring cleaning.
She figured some of the dresses taking up space in her closet might be put to better use helping students struggling to afford prom.
“A lot of them have expressed that prom is just too expensive,” Zulic’s told the NOW.
She reached out to colleagues and floated the idea of collecting gowns for students.
Soon, fellow Byrne Creek teachers Maria Fraser, Laida Falsetto, Mirella Gargiulo and Meena Mangat were on board planning a pop-up prom sale for grads.
On Friday (May 4) at lunch, students will get a chance to peruse dresses, shoes and accessories in the school’s textile room and pay whatever they can afford for the items.
The proceeds will be used to establish a bursary for a deserving student.
Organizers are thrilled at the donations that have rolled in so far.
“We have a pretty decent collection,” Zulic said. “We have anywhere from formal gowns to cocktail dresses.”
The teachers first appealed to friends and family, but Fraser, who got married just last year, also put the call out on the Greater Vancouver Wedding Swap and Shop Facebook group.
“Everyone’s generosity has just been so beautifully overwhelming,” Zulic said.
Fraser said Byrne Creek prides itself on its sense of community and family, and the pop-up prom sale just made sense.
“We feel like every student should be able to attend their own prom and not let affordability be a factor,” Fraser said. “If we can just provide an easier avenue for them to do that, that just warms my heart.”
The teachers are still accepting donations. To donate formal wear – gowns, shoes, accessories – call the school or email maria.fraser@burnabyschools.ca.
To donate to the bursary, visit byrnecreek.burnaby
schools.ca and look for the School Cash Online link.
